GARDEN OF YODO
a ‘concrete’ ode to Ando
“If you give people nothingness, they can ponder what can be achieved from that nothingness.”
— Tadao Ando
Ando once remarked, “I don’t believe architecture has to speak too much. It should remain silent and let nature, in the guise of sunlight and wind, enter.” Rooted in principles of simplicity, minimalism, and the poetic sensibility of haiku, this proposal draws from Ando’s philosophy—one that seeks harmony between design, nature, and people. Through the interplay of light, shadow, and concrete, the project aspires to create an experiential urban folly that evokes reflection, stillness, and a quiet dialogue between material and atmosphere.
— Tadao Ando
Ando once remarked, “I don’t believe architecture has to speak too much. It should remain silent and let nature, in the guise of sunlight and wind, enter.” Rooted in principles of simplicity, minimalism, and the poetic sensibility of haiku, this proposal draws from Ando’s philosophy—one that seeks harmony between design, nature, and people. Through the interplay of light, shadow, and concrete, the project aspires to create an experiential urban folly that evokes reflection, stillness, and a quiet dialogue between material and atmosphere.
The design unfolds as a sequence of framed views that capture the many expressions of nature. The experience lies in how one encounters these elements—first the river, then the sky, and finally the shifting patterns of light and shadow. As one moves through the folly, moments of pause invite reflection, offering glimpses of the surrounding landscape. Here, architecture becomes a quiet frame—mediating between nature and the human presence, using concrete as its only material gesture.
Minimalism is articulated through the use of simple, intersecting geometric planes that define and shape space. By carving into and puncturing the solidity of the concrete walls, the design transforms heaviness into lightness—allowing light to filter through and shadows to animate the surfaces. This interplay dissolves the monolithic quality of the material, opening the structure to its context.
Minimalism is articulated through the use of simple, intersecting geometric planes that define and shape space. By carving into and puncturing the solidity of the concrete walls, the design transforms heaviness into lightness—allowing light to filter through and shadows to animate the surfaces. This interplay dissolves the monolithic quality of the material, opening the structure to its context.
Location
Typology
Team
Year
Critics
Role
Typology
Team
Year
Critics
Role
Osaka, Japan (Unbuilt)
Sculptural Folly
Vaishnavi Chandra Kumar, Sindhu Yadav
March 2019, Competition Entry (Top 25 selected projects)
Sanjay Puri, Kapil Merchant, Mamata Shelar, Ruchika Gupta, Toral Doshi
Conception, design development, design
Sculptural Folly
Vaishnavi Chandra Kumar, Sindhu Yadav
March 2019, Competition Entry (Top 25 selected projects)
Sanjay Puri, Kapil Merchant, Mamata Shelar, Ruchika Gupta, Toral Doshi
Conception, design development, design